[ There is, briefly, a spectacular amount of dog nose and slobber involved in the transfer. Ozpin waits with a gentle air of amazement.
It only doubles at Tall Break. He gives a little cut-off sound, halfway to a laugh, and steadies back to his effort at a polite smile by the time his image flicks on. ]
I do apologize for interrupting. I'd not meant to eavesdrop.
Think nothing of it. These gadgets seem to be acting a little weird of late, though with Baltus involved I can't rule out his penchant for chewing on the mysterious wall fruit as a cause.
[The omen's last contribution to the connection is an unrepentant mental image of a pineapple, sparkling and aglow as though angels were smiling upon it. Reminded of what a joy it was to absolutely shred the thing, Baltus decides to go on patrol for more wall fruit in the hopes of finding another one. He pops up to lovingly push his head against Break's before he trots away, hopes high for further satisfying destruction.
Break, for his part, gets back to his pastry things. His sleeves are rolled up to avoid the mess, revealing a certain bracelet in red that matches the purple one Qrow has been quietly sporting of late. Break is equally unrepentant.]
The last person who inadvertently sent me a message was quite eager to get rid of a surplus of donuts. I certainly can't complain about that.
Then I must apologize I don't have any pastries to offer— though you seem rather well ahead in that regard.
[ He settles in with the omni, taking up his mug of cocoa again from just offscreen. ]
May I assume a mutual friend of ours will soon be receiving a surprise?
[ Mutual friend, as though he isn't aware. As though he isn't looking at the evidence right now. (As though it doesn't remind him of when he wore maroon, which is a thought that still stings at him even now.) ]
Mm, just so. He seems like the sort of guy whose stress is best alleviated by hurling an explosive distraction right at his face, you know?
[Break is well aware everyone who has any reason to know anything is going to figure it out immediately and he is totally unrepentant. Thus, he can be open here about the duality of how he cares about other people. Of course the sentiment here is genuine: Qrow is agitated lately by various dramas, so Break shall help him to feel better. But also, why even have a whatever-he-is-because-Qrow-is-scared-of-labels if you aren't going to terrorize him at every opportunity? What a tragic waste that would be.]
[ 'Explosive distraction' certainly tracks with the sort of chaos Qrow used to bring to his doorstep, and the sort of chaos Qrow now seems constantly one step behind corralling. It is a delight to watch. From a distance, with cocoa. ]
If you require any assistance in your preparations, do let me know. [ And here is the fond betrayal: ] I am certain he will be touched, no matter what he tries to say about it.
[That is something Break had already figured out for himself, but it's still pleasing to hear a confirmation from the person Qrow seems to view as largely responsible for setting him on a decent path in life. Break wouldn't have developed his silly crush in the first place if he didn't wish to be around in the long term, no matter what they end up calling it. Since that's the case, it matters to him to learn these things properly.]
Thankfully, I am fluent in cantankerous grumbling. [Beeeeeeecause Break is also that guy.] However, your support is much appreciated. You'll let me know if there's anything I can do for you in turn, I hope? I've also grown rather fond of a gaggle of the kids you've got over there.
[Like he didn't already quietly start making it a habit to pop over there to check on things when the nonsense with that bonehead Maul went down.]
[ He has noticed the man's increasing presence in the same way he notices the flash of familiar red, but the explicit offer draws a smile. ]
Well, I suspect the children would have something to say if I neglected this opportunity. [ Definitely the children. ] We would be delighted to enjoy your expertise with pastries for ourselves, should the urge ever strike you. Ruby has certainly tried to learn, but she has nearly burned down the kitchen for a fourth time, lately. I may not be equipped to teach all subjects.
...Miss Ruby's enthusiasm and energy are admirable.
[This is not a lie, but Break's bemused tone, and the somewhat wry look he tosses the omni's way, says that he figures he is probably happier with Ruby living in Ozpin's house and not his own.]
Be that as it may, "expertise" is a bit too strong a word, I should think. Cooking and baking are pastimes I've only learned since I arrived here. My own kids are useless nobles at best and poorly socialized at worst, so there was no way I could send them out to barter for every meal.
You seem to learn quickly, then. [ A flicker of wry amusement, here. ] More quickly than those in my household. I would rather have you at our oven.
Still, I seem to recall the young members of your household were [ half a beat of hesitation, here; they were charmingly unusual, to be sure. He settles on: ] entirely welcoming. 'Enthusiasm and energy' seem to be common traits in Trench.
Flattery will get you everywhere, you know. [It absolutely won't, with Break, but he likes to have everyone around him trained to appeal to his whims with bribery and, perhaps, the occasional amusing grovel.] All the sugar I eat goes straight to my brain. That's how I've come to be so clever.
[He delivers this line in a pleasant version of one of Ange's deadpan snide comments.]
...mm. I don't know how much Mister Qrow has told you about certain similarities between our worlds, but -- at home, my kids were obliged to be caught up in undoing an apocalyptic mess they weren't in the least bit responsible for. In this place, they're able to choose what to do with their own lives for the very first time. It suits them well.
[ He cracks a smile at the joke, pleased to have company in his sweet tooth—
And then it falters, vanishes, at an apocalyptic mess they weren't responsible for. He does not know how much Qrow has shared, precisely, but with someone he is so close to... it may be a great deal. And they are trying to set it all behind them, now. Ozpin cannot cling so tightly to his secrets if he wishes to leave them buried.
It's still killed all the humor in his face and posture, left him obviously off-kilter for a moment. ]
I am glad to hear it... and to see the same of young Ruby and the rest, here. While Trench may seem grim to some, it is a far freer life than they'd grown accustomed to back upon Remnant.
[Break notices; of course he does. Even if he didn't know as much of the story as he does, he'd pick up on such an obvious shift in demeanor, despite it happening over omni video. In contrast, his own gaze is steady. It's not as though his own hands are clean, in regards to using the kids for his own ends for the sake of the larger story. That's just the reality in so many of these other worlds, and no matter how necessary it was or wasn't, Break has never had any illusions about how terrible it was.
He isn't apologetic at all about being upfront about it, but he does feel a little regretful for killing the mood.]
That just means it's the duty of us adults to fight off the nasty bits for them. Isn't that so...?
Certainly. [ He rallies with a new stab at amusement: ] Though I suspect Ruby would protest strongly indeed, should I get in the way of her own monster-slaying. They seem quite well-equipped to face the challenges here... indeed, it's been a joy to many to find that 'Huntsman' has so close a local equivalent.
[ It ends softer and more honest than he had expected. It's been a long time indeed since Ozpin considered himself a Huntsman in his own right; Deerington was the first shift in some time, in that regard. ]
Miss Ruby is well-equipped in everything from monster-slaying to uncle-slaying. [Break is saying this because he knows there is no way in hell this one will not amuse Ozpin. It can be something of a peace offering.] Just last week she bullied me into letting her tag along on an errand by telling me she wished to "protect me from my loneliness". It was so revolting I nearly disintegrated on the spot.
[And now Break has turned his ass right around and is making the uncle she practiced on lunch pastries that have little birds with miniature Harbingers on them in a similar act of deliberate murder. How exactly Qrow has found himself in a Relationship™ again becomes increasingly more clear.]
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It only doubles at Tall Break. He gives a little cut-off sound, halfway to a laugh, and steadies back to his effort at a polite smile by the time his image flicks on. ]
I do apologize for interrupting. I'd not meant to eavesdrop.
no subject
[The omen's last contribution to the connection is an unrepentant mental image of a pineapple, sparkling and aglow as though angels were smiling upon it. Reminded of what a joy it was to absolutely shred the thing, Baltus decides to go on patrol for more wall fruit in the hopes of finding another one. He pops up to lovingly push his head against Break's before he trots away, hopes high for further satisfying destruction.
Break, for his part, gets back to his pastry things. His sleeves are rolled up to avoid the mess, revealing a certain bracelet in red that matches the purple one Qrow has been quietly sporting of late. Break is equally unrepentant.]
The last person who inadvertently sent me a message was quite eager to get rid of a surplus of donuts. I certainly can't complain about that.
backdated to march, I am VERY SORRY
[ He settles in with the omni, taking up his mug of cocoa again from just offscreen. ]
May I assume a mutual friend of ours will soon be receiving a surprise?
[ Mutual friend, as though he isn't aware. As though he isn't looking at the evidence right now. (As though it doesn't remind him of when he wore maroon, which is a thought that still stings at him even now.) ]
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[Break is well aware everyone who has any reason to know anything is going to figure it out immediately and he is totally unrepentant. Thus, he can be open here about the duality of how he cares about other people. Of course the sentiment here is genuine: Qrow is agitated lately by various dramas, so Break shall help him to feel better. But also, why even have a whatever-he-is-because-Qrow-is-scared-of-labels if you aren't going to terrorize him at every opportunity? What a tragic waste that would be.]
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[ 'Explosive distraction' certainly tracks with the sort of chaos Qrow used to bring to his doorstep, and the sort of chaos Qrow now seems constantly one step behind corralling. It is a delight to watch. From a distance, with cocoa. ]
If you require any assistance in your preparations, do let me know. [ And here is the fond betrayal: ] I am certain he will be touched, no matter what he tries to say about it.
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Thankfully, I am fluent in cantankerous grumbling. [Beeeeeeecause Break is also that guy.] However, your support is much appreciated. You'll let me know if there's anything I can do for you in turn, I hope? I've also grown rather fond of a gaggle of the kids you've got over there.
[Like he didn't already quietly start making it a habit to pop over there to check on things when the nonsense with that bonehead Maul went down.]
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Well, I suspect the children would have something to say if I neglected this opportunity. [ Definitely the children. ] We would be delighted to enjoy your expertise with pastries for ourselves, should the urge ever strike you. Ruby has certainly tried to learn, but she has nearly burned down the kitchen for a fourth time, lately. I may not be equipped to teach all subjects.
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[This is not a lie, but Break's bemused tone, and the somewhat wry look he tosses the omni's way, says that he figures he is probably happier with Ruby living in Ozpin's house and not his own.]
Be that as it may, "expertise" is a bit too strong a word, I should think. Cooking and baking are pastimes I've only learned since I arrived here. My own kids are useless nobles at best and poorly socialized at worst, so there was no way I could send them out to barter for every meal.
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Still, I seem to recall the young members of your household were [ half a beat of hesitation, here; they were charmingly unusual, to be sure. He settles on: ] entirely welcoming. 'Enthusiasm and energy' seem to be common traits in Trench.
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[He delivers this line in a pleasant version of one of Ange's deadpan snide comments.]
...mm. I don't know how much Mister Qrow has told you about certain similarities between our worlds, but -- at home, my kids were obliged to be caught up in undoing an apocalyptic mess they weren't in the least bit responsible for. In this place, they're able to choose what to do with their own lives for the very first time. It suits them well.
no subject
And then it falters, vanishes, at an apocalyptic mess they weren't responsible for. He does not know how much Qrow has shared, precisely, but with someone he is so close to... it may be a great deal. And they are trying to set it all behind them, now. Ozpin cannot cling so tightly to his secrets if he wishes to leave them buried.
It's still killed all the humor in his face and posture, left him obviously off-kilter for a moment. ]
I am glad to hear it... and to see the same of young Ruby and the rest, here. While Trench may seem grim to some, it is a far freer life than they'd grown accustomed to back upon Remnant.
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He isn't apologetic at all about being upfront about it, but he does feel a little regretful for killing the mood.]
That just means it's the duty of us adults to fight off the nasty bits for them. Isn't that so...?
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[ It ends softer and more honest than he had expected. It's been a long time indeed since Ozpin considered himself a Huntsman in his own right; Deerington was the first shift in some time, in that regard. ]
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[And now Break has turned his ass right around and is making the uncle she practiced on lunch pastries that have little birds with miniature Harbingers on them in a similar act of deliberate murder. How exactly Qrow has found himself in a Relationship™ again becomes increasingly more clear.]